Unity Desktop Environment AlternativesDesktop Environments and other similar apps like Unity Desktop Environment

Unity Desktop Environment is described as 'Unity is a shell interface for the Gnome desktop environment developed by Canonical Ltd for its Ubuntu operating system. It is designed to make more efficient use of space given the limited screen size of netbooks' and is a popular desktop environment in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Unity Desktop Environment for a variety of platforms, including Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac and GNOME apps. The best Unity Desktop Environment alternative is KDE Plasma, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Unity Desktop Environment are GNOME, Xfce, Cinnamon and MATE.

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Alternatives list

  1. KDE Plasma icon

    KDE Plasma

     465 likes
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    Plasma is a cross-device work environment by the KDE Community where trust is put on the user's capacity to best define their own workflow and preferences.

    30 KDE Plasma alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • postmarketOS
    A typical Plasma desktop looks like this
     

    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Linux alternative to Unity Desktop Environment.

    • KDE Plasma is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Unity Desktop Environment.

    • KDE Plasma is Free and Open SourceUnity Desktop Environment is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE Plasma is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedUnity Desktop Environment is not according to our users
  2. GNOME icon

    GNOME

     502 likes
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    An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to help you have the best possible computing experience.

    32 GNOME alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    GNOME 40
     
  4. Xfce icon

    Xfce

     377 likes
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    Xfce (pronounced as four individual letters) is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris and BSD. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.

    29 Xfce alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Xfce 4.14
     
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  6. Cinnamon icon

    Cinnamon

     197 likes
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    Cinnamon is a Linux desktop which provides advanced innovative features and a traditional user experience. The desktop layout is similar to GNOME 2. The underlying technology is forked from GNOME Shell.

    27 Cinnamon alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Cinnamon 4.2
     
  7. MATE icon

    MATE

     144 likes
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    Many users of GNOME 2 dislike GNOME 3. MATE is a fork of the good old GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

    25 MATE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenIndiana
    • GhostBSD
    MATE screenshot 1
     
  8. LXQt icon

    LXQt

     54 likes
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    LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the .

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    LXQt screenshot 1
     
  10. LXDE icon

    LXDE

     122 likes
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    The "Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment" is an extremely fast-performing and energy-saving desktop environment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Screenshot of the LXDE desktop. It's simple, lightweight, fast, modern, internationalized, and standard-compliant.
     
  11. Budgie icon

    Budgie

     46 likes
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    The Budgie Desktop is a feature-rich, modern desktop designed to keep out the way of the user. It consists of a number of components to provide a more complete desktop experience.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    A screenshot of the Budgie desktop running on Solus Linux. The Budgie settings manager is on the right, made specifically to customize the desktop. The rest of the settings are handled by the Gnome settings manager.
     
  12. Cairo Shell icon

    Cairo Shell

     52 likes
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    Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards.

    38 Cairo Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1
     

    • Cairo Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Unity Desktop Environment.

    • Cairo Shell is Free and Open SourceUnity Desktop Environment is also Free and Open Source
    • Cairo Shell is CustomizableUnity Desktop Environment is not according to our users
  13. Enlightenment icon

    Enlightenment

     52 likes
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    Enlightenment is a Window Manager, Compositor and Minimal Desktop for Linux (the primary platform), BSD and any other compatible UNIX system.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Enlightenment screenshot 1
     

    • Enlightenment is the most popular Mac alternative to Unity Desktop Environment.

    • Enlightenment is Free and Open SourceUnity Desktop Environment is also Free and Open Source
    • Enlightenment is LightweightUnity Desktop Environment is not according to our users
  14. Docky icon

    Docky

     131 likes
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    Docky is a full fledged dock application that makes opening common applications and managing windows easier and quicker. Docky is fully integrated into the GNOME Desktop and features a no non-sense approach to configuration and usage. It just works.

    50 Docky alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Banshee Application Controls
     
  15. ObjectDock icon

    ObjectDock

     64 likes
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    Animated Windows dock for fast access to apps, shortcuts and files, featuring auto-hide, drag and drop launching, fully customizable color, size and position, support for multiple docks, shortcut management, enhanced desktop organization and visual effects.

    53 ObjectDock alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    ObjectDock screenshot 1
     

    • ObjectDock is the most popular commercial alternative to Unity Desktop Environment.

    • ObjectDock is Paid and ProprietaryUnity Desktop Environment is Free and Open Source
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